Former Clemson TE reveals what it takes to thrive in Chad Morris’ offense

When Chad Morris first arrived at Clemson, Brandon Ford wasn't quite sure what the Tigers' new offense would mean for the tight ends.

Ford had arrived at Clemson as a wide receiver before growing into the tight end position. Dwayne Allen was already established at the position, and when Clemson brought in Morris to install his spread offense, Ford remembers both players having questions.

“When you hear spread offense, you're thinking four wide, five wide,” Ford said. “We're going to throw the ball, we're going to hand it off, we're going to run inside zone, outside.”

What about the tight ends?

Morris didn't leave Ford and Allen wondering for long.

“I remember the first day he gets there, and after he introduces himself, he pulls me and Dwayne aside,” Ford said. “Hey man, listen, we got this position called the three-back.”

Initially, Ford thought Morris meant running back. Instead, Morris explained that the three-back was essentially a versatile tight end or H-back.

Then Morris delivered the message Ford really wanted to hear.

“We're going to use you guys a lot,” Ford recalled Morris telling them. “We're going to use y'all throwing and running the ball, and a lot of the offense is keyed off of the H-back or three-back.”

Ford had a front-row seat for what that could mean.

Allen flourished in Morris' offense, winning the John Mackey Award in 2011. Ford played alongside him before moving into the starting role himself the following season.

“I'll never forget going into that year how much he utilized us both,” said Ford, who had 40 receptions for 480 yards with eight touchdowns in 2012. “Out wide, up the seam, out the backfield, play action, leading points to the run, whatever it was.”

Now Morris is back at Clemson, and Ford sees opportunities for the Tigers' current tight ends in the same system.

But there's a catch.

Before the receptions and touchdowns come, Ford says a tight end has to prove he can handle the physical side of the position.

“If you weren't physical, you weren't really able to help us much because now when you're in the game, they could key off and say, ‘Well, they're probably going to pass because this guy ain't blocking,’” Ford said.

Ford learned that lesson from a different starting point than Allen.

He described Allen as a natural tight end, already possessing the size and physicality for the position. Ford was transitioning from receiver and had to develop the blocking side of his game.

Catching the football wasn't the problem.

Blocking some of the players Clemson had on the other side of the line of scrimmage was another matter.

Ford remembers going from blocking defensive backs to having to deal with players such as Da'Quan Bowers and Andre Branch in practice. He also practiced against Vic Beasley, who eventually developed into one of college football's premier pass rushers.

“For me, it just was learning the intangibles of blocking, learning the schemes, really critiquing and bettering myself on improving,” Ford said.

That's where Ford learned one of the central principles of playing tight end for Morris.

The better the Tigers could block from the position, the more dangerous they could become through the air.

“The more physical we could be with running the ball, the more it's going to open up the pass, and we were going to get rewarded,” Ford said.

That experience gives Ford a unique perspective on Clemson's current tight ends.

Christian Bentancur provided an example of what the position can offer in the passing game with his touchdown reception against North Carolina. But Ford's experience under Morris suggests the value of the position isn't measured simply by catches.

Blocking helps create uncertainty.

If a defense knows a particular tight end isn't likely to hold up in the running game, his presence can provide a clue about what's coming. A player who can block effectively and also threaten a defense as a receiver gives Morris considerably more flexibility.

For Ford, receiving came naturally.

Morris wanted something more.

“From the catching ability, that was natural for me,” Ford said. “For him, being a playmaker, the words he used: ‘Can you make plays? Can we count on you to line up and be better than their guy?’”

There was another requirement, too.

Accountability.

“You always hear people talk about being accountable, knowing that those other 10 guys can count on you to make that block, make that catch,” Ford said. “Just having that unselfishness to yourself to where it's all about the team.”

Physicality, playmaking and accountability.

Those were three qualities Ford remembers Morris emphasizing during his first stint at Clemson.

He remembers Morris' energy, too.

The three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree joked about going through classes, film and the other demands of a college football player's day before arriving at practice and seeing Morris drinking Red Bull.

“You start wondering how much energy this guy has,” Ford said.

More than a decade later, that energy is one of the things Ford was excited about Clemson bringing back.

“He's great, so energetic and always wants the best for you,” Ford said. “That's the one thing I loved about Chad coming back. It goes beyond just the playing field.”

Ford knows firsthand where the opportunity in Morris' offense can lead.

He watched Allen flourish in it. Then Ford got his opportunity.

Now a new generation of Clemson tight ends is learning the offense Ford once had to learn himself.

If Ford's experience is any indication, the formula hasn't changed much.

The catches can be the reward.

But first comes the physicality.

“The more physical we could be with running the ball, the more it's going to open up the pass, and we were going to get rewarded.”